Simply Exciting Football

Exciting. One simple word to describe Ton Pentre’s performance against Aberdare Town as the Bulldogs put on a scintillating display of football using their incredible pace to full effect.

Aberdare Town 1-4 Ton PentreMacWhirter Welsh League Division One Tuesday, 14th August 2012

Exciting. One simple word to describe Ton Pentre’s performance against Aberdare Town as the Bulldogs put on a scintillating display of football using their incredible pace to full effect.

Ton Pentre were a goal up within the first five minutes after Tom McCarthy put Chris Colvin into a one-on-one situation with Aberdare goalkeeper Ben Banks. Colvin’s first touch was a little heavy but with Banks being unable to capitalise the Bulldogs striker took the ball around him and scored into the empty net.

In the 11th minute a free kick was directed into the Aberdare 18-yard box where Leon Young met it to head a shot at goal, however, the effort was cleared to the edge of the penalty area. With the ball loose, Gareth Tedstone seized the opportunity to hit it low past Banks for 2-0.

As the half progressed, Ton Pentre were unable to sustain the all-out assault on the Aberdare target and this allowed the home team to put the Bulldogs under pressure.

Jamie Bradford took full advantage of some sloppy defending in the 26th minute to make it 2-1 but Aberdare’s hopes of pulling themselves level were quickly dashed as Ton Pentre scored again two minutes later.

Following confusion between Banks and his defence, McCarthy was allowed to continue his run towards goal without being effectively closed down. Having squeezed between them, McCarthy registered his first competitive goal in a Ton Pentre shirt to make it 3-1.

Before half-time, Jonathan Howe pulled off a superb double save to deny Sam Small the chance to score after the Aberdare striker was able to sneak his way through the Bulldogs defence to go one-on-one with the Ton goalkeeper.

Ton Pentre were just as lively in the second half as they went on the hunt for more goals leaving Aberdare in a quandary as to whether they should stick or twist.

The home team decided to go for broke and attempted to push forward, but the Bulldogs started to utilise and enjoy the space and the Rhondda outfit thought they’d scored a fourth in the 63rd minute.

When Colvin was given too much room several yards out from the edge of the 18-yard box, his predatory instinct made him take a shot at the target. It was well hit and although Banks got his hands to the shot, it was too powerful for him to keep hold of possession. McCarthy was unmarked and fired the rebound into the net but it was ruled out as the striker was flagged offside by the assistant referee.

Less than a minute later McCarthy had another opportunity when he ran onto a ball over the top of the defence, and on this occasion he was onside, but despite a useful shot Banks saved. However, once again, Banks spilled the ball back into Ton Pentre’s possession and Tedstone was on hand to make it 4-1 by shooting into the top left-hand corner of the goal.

With 15 minutes remaining, Colvin nearly increased the score further when he was on the end of a cross from Young sent into the box from the right wing. Having jumped unmarked to head the ball, Colvin unfortunately directed it just over the bar to the relief of Banks.

This was a dominant performance from the Bulldogs which took them to the top of MacWhirter Welsh Football League Division One having played two matches. Ton Pentre’s next test will be against second placed Haverfordwest County at their Bridge Meadow Stadium home on Saturday, 18th August 2012 at 2.30pm.